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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
DNF at 75%, unabridged version.
This book started as a decent story in need of a good editor. The mystery was intriguing but the author kept going off on random tangents about engineering projects or the in-depth backstories of very minor characters. Eventually, however, the story completely lost its way as the author started throwing in more and more "shock value" elements including detailed child abuse, paedophilia, flagellation and a constant stream of tragic deaths. It was as though he was trying to force an emotional response by throwing in every horrible thing he could think of. This, coupled with the disgusting way he described his female characters (incessantly fat-shaming a little girl in the narration and a constant focus on the bodies of children and women), made me throw in the towel.
This book started as a decent story in need of a good editor. The mystery was intriguing but the author kept going off on random tangents about engineering projects or the in-depth backstories of very minor characters. Eventually, however, the story completely lost its way as the author started throwing in more and more "shock value" elements including detailed child abuse, paedophilia, flagellation and a constant stream of tragic deaths. It was as though he was trying to force an emotional response by throwing in every horrible thing he could think of. This, coupled with the disgusting way he described his female characters (incessantly fat-shaming a little girl in the narration and a constant focus on the bodies of children and women), made me throw in the towel.
This goes on the 'could-not-finish' shelf. What a stinker. I was thoroughly impatient with the character descriptions and unnecessary explanations through dialogue, e.g., the mother explaining to the kindly old gardener why their youngest daughter is nicknamed "Callie"---I can almost picture the gardener nodding with polite disinterest. As an American, I was really irritated with the author feeling it necessary to include, during the mother's interior monologue, the information that her American husband called the motorway the 'interstate' (even though he's lived in England for 16 years and is a mechanical engineer?). As if that weren't enough, she does this again later with "gorge" and "ravine". Hello Mr.Herbert? We have gorges in the States as well, no need to explain what one is.
Once the kindly old gardener showed up with his "West Country burr" thoughtfully re-produced for us in phonetic dialogue, I gave up. I'm not interested in being told through pointless exposition that the boot of a car is a trunk, or that cling film is plastic wrap. I already hate the mother and can see her turning into a major pain. Another peeve--it is also not necessary to show that a character is American by having him constantly say, "yeah" and "hey" and "gonna". Another inconsistency in the father's character;he is a MECHANICAL ENGINEER, i.e, he builds bridges and such, yet he doesn't know that a brook that is relatively mild during late summer might not get a bit wilder during the wetter months? Isn't knowing that stuff part of the job description of an mechanical engineer? Also, HAVING LIVED IN ENGLAND FOR SIXTEEN YEARS, doesn't he know what the weather is like? I can't be distracted with this kind of shoddy attention to detail alternating with boring attention detail (I refer you back to my comment re the youngest daughter's nickname). Especially when I'm reading a scary story. I'm the type, who while reading a recent Stephen King story was distracted by the fact that he had his character, a women in her late 30's remembering obscure 7UP jingles and Winston cigarette ads. I'm in my mid-40's and I never heard of the 7UP jingle(it likes you you like it). My husband is a few years older and he had never heard it either. I only know the Winston thing from having read an earlier King story. Maybe King was being meta and his character knew that stuff because she read his books? It didn't fly with me at all and that is a very minor detail (except for that he kept referring back to the 7UP thing). I just knew I was in for so much more in Herbert's book. I can't put myself through that.
Once the kindly old gardener showed up with his "West Country burr" thoughtfully re-produced for us in phonetic dialogue, I gave up. I'm not interested in being told through pointless exposition that the boot of a car is a trunk, or that cling film is plastic wrap. I already hate the mother and can see her turning into a major pain. Another peeve--it is also not necessary to show that a character is American by having him constantly say, "yeah" and "hey" and "gonna". Another inconsistency in the father's character;he is a MECHANICAL ENGINEER, i.e, he builds bridges and such, yet he doesn't know that a brook that is relatively mild during late summer might not get a bit wilder during the wetter months? Isn't knowing that stuff part of the job description of an mechanical engineer? Also, HAVING LIVED IN ENGLAND FOR SIXTEEN YEARS, doesn't he know what the weather is like? I can't be distracted with this kind of shoddy attention to detail alternating with boring attention detail (I refer you back to my comment re the youngest daughter's nickname). Especially when I'm reading a scary story. I'm the type, who while reading a recent Stephen King story was distracted by the fact that he had his character, a women in her late 30's remembering obscure 7UP jingles and Winston cigarette ads. I'm in my mid-40's and I never heard of the 7UP jingle(it likes you you like it). My husband is a few years older and he had never heard it either. I only know the Winston thing from having read an earlier King story. Maybe King was being meta and his character knew that stuff because she read his books? It didn't fly with me at all and that is a very minor detail (except for that he kept referring back to the 7UP thing). I just knew I was in for so much more in Herbert's book. I can't put myself through that.
This isn't like his other books, but it is wonderful, and a horror in it's own way.
A truly tragic story as it deals with child abuse, and missing children.
I found it engrossing from the start, it is only set over a period of around four days, but Herbert crams a serious amount in that short period of time.
A truly tragic story as it deals with child abuse, and missing children.
I found it engrossing from the start, it is only set over a period of around four days, but Herbert crams a serious amount in that short period of time.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Wow this book picked up a hell of pace some 200 pages in, I could not put it down! It really stirred up my imagination and got me all edgy reading it late at night. Brilliant author I just love his style. My new fave by him!
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes